Mick Price does not need reminding of the task confronting Charm Stone when she heads to Caulfield for her first-up run.
The presence of Jimmysstar and Angel Capital in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) has the co-trainer a little worried, but he also notes Charm Stone has had the perfect preparation for Saturday’s return.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare is herself a dual Group 1 winner and importantly will make her own luck on Saturday.
As Price explained she will be up on the speed and out of harm’s way while Jimmysstar and Angel Capital are likely to be buried in the ruck.
Charm Stone’s two Group 1 wins have come fresh – in the Sangster Stakes after a three-month break and in the Manikato Stakes with four months between outings.
This time it is five months, but Price and Kent Jnr have been in charge of the entire preparation as the mare entered the stable without going to a pre-trainer.
A trip to Caulfield for a gallop between races brought the mare on as has two jump-outs, the most recent at Cranbourne on March 9.
“She took a bit out of that gallop and what we have done, she has needed,” Price said.
“She did not do any pre-training. She came straight to us. She had a bit of ‘pudding’ on her, and she’s needed some gallops, but she hasn’t put a foot wrong.
“She’s had a brilliant prep, she goes good fresh and she’s reasonably fit and if the race sets up well for her, she should be around the money as she will take a forward position and take luck out of the equation.
“In the Manikato, she was up there. She’s been springing the gates really well and I would expect her to again bounce and put herself there.
“She’s had a good prep. She’s a very happy mare.”
With Ben Melham and Damian Lane riding in Sydney and Mark Zahra aboard Jimmysstar, Thomas Stockdale takes the ride on Charm Stone on Saturday after partnering the mare in a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday.
After Monday’s rain, the track was on the affected side, but with fine weather forecast for the rest of the week, Price said track conditions should be ideal.
“Tommy Stockdale won a Group 3 on Gumdrops for Sheamus Mills and the owners and has a bit of a connection there,” Price said.
“He’s a loyal worker, a nice jockey that helps us a lot and has ridden a lot for Sheamus.
“I’m happy to have him on and hopefully he wins his first Group 1.”
